With their brilliant blooms and superb foliage, autumnal plants can prolong the beauty of your garden when the days cool off. Perennials, annuals, shrubs... you name it!

Fall is the time to think about planting spring-flowering bulbs. Snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips, muscari, and hyacinths, among others, arrive in plant stores in September. They should be put in the ground when temperatures cool down, usually from Thanksgiving onwards. While you're gardening for next year, make sure to take in the beautiful fall flowers you can see right now.

1. Orpine

Photography, Irina Iriser, Pexels.com

Full sun
Flowering: August to October
Height: 45 to 60 cm
Width: 50 to 70 cm
Hardiness zone: 3

Orpine grass is a particularly popular autumn plant—its pink or white flowers are the perfect addition to any flower bed. This perennial, whose blooms attract pollinators, prefers well-drained soil.

 

2. Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Photography, Marek Piwnicki, Pexels.com

Full sun
Flowering: August to October
Height: 180 cm
Width: 150 cm
Hardiness zone: 4

Chinese silver grass is truly the star of the garden in late summer! Its graceful, airy foliage adds movement and texture. Including its flowers, Chinese silver grass can reach a height of 180 cm, making it an ideal plant to dress up the back of a flower bed.

3. Northwind (Panicum virgatum)

Photography, Shutterstock.
 

Full sun
Flowering: August to October
Height: 100 cm and over
Width: 75 cm
Hardiness zone: 4

This upright grass has attractive bluish-green foliage that turns golden yellow in autumn. Its sturdy stems remain upright, even under snow, making them an attractive sight even in winter.

4. Aster

Photography, Irina Iriser, Pexels.com

Full sun
Flowering: August to September
Height: 60 to 75 cm
Width: 60 to 100 cm
Hardiness zones: 3 to 5

A real magnet for bees and bumblebees at the end of summer, asters adorn gardens with their splendid colours, infusing a hit of vibrancy before and during autumn. They have a yellow or mauve centre and petals of different colours (white, pink, purple or red).

5. Anemone

Photography, Dieter K, Unsplash.com
 

Full sun or part shade
Flowering: August to October
Height: 90 cm
Width: 60 cm
Hardiness zone: 4

This perennial blooms white in autumn, even when planted in part-shade. Its dark green foliage highlights the flowers. As it tends to become invasive, we recommend limiting its growth. Be careful, as it is toxic, and consequently repels deer!

6. Red turtlehead (Chelone obliqua)

Photography, iStock.
 

Full sun or part shade
Flowering: August to October
Height: 60 cm and over
Width: 45 cm and +
Hardiness zone: 4

The red turtlehead forms easy and low-maintenance beds. Its striking pink flowers resemble turtle heads. This perennial thrives in moist soil. (Perfect for those who have a pond.)

7. Chrysanthemum ‘Mammoth pink’

Photography, Yoksel Zok, Unsplash.com
 

Full sun or part shade
Flowering: August to October
Height: 50 cm and over
Width: 40 cm and +
Hardiness zones: 6 to 9

This annual is a must-have to brighten up your fall decor from September onwards, or to replace tired summer annuals. Chrysanthemums come in a range of colours (yellow, orange, white, pink, red), adding a touch of sparkle to the garden. It's also resistant to the first frosts.

8. Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)

Photography, Shutterstock.
 

Full sun or part shade
Flowering: June, but superb foliage in autumn
Height: 90 cm
Width: 60 cm
Hardiness zone: 4

Arkansas bluestar's starry, light-blue blossoms appear in June, but it's its yellow-orange foliage in autumn that steals the show of most flowerbeds.

9. Amelanchier

Photography, Linh San, Pexels.com
 

Full sun or part shade
Height: 400 to 600 cm
Width: 100 to 300 cm
Hardiness zone: 2

All amelanchiers turn a spectacular orange-red in autumn. In spring, their white blossoms produce bird-attracting fruit.

10. Euonymus alatus

Photography, Mike Houser, Unsplash.com
 

Full sun or part shade
Height: 150 to 200 cm
Width: 120 to 150 cm
Hardiness zone: 3

Euonymus alatus turns a flamboyant red before winter, especially if placed in full sun.

11. Actaea simplex

Photography, iStock.

Semi-sun or shade
Flowering: August to September
Height: 90 to 190 cm
Width: 60 cm
Hardiness zone: 3

The actaea simplex's cut foliage is highly decorative. Some varieties have purple leaves. Its playful spikes of flowers attract butterflies. Also know as 'silver candle,' this plant is a hardy and prefers cool soil.

12. Toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta)

Photography, Nagara Oyodo, Unsplash.com
 

Semi-sun or shade
Flowering: September to October
Height: 80 cm
Width: 60 cm
Hardiness zones: 4 to 8

Its orchid-like flowers grace shady areas of the yard with moist soil. Its foliage tends to arch during flowering, adding movement to landscaping.